CHAPTER THREE

The Topography of Ethiopia

and The Horn

• Objectives
• Describe the topography of Ethiopia and the Horn.
• Identify the physiographic divisions of Ethiopia.
• Elucidate the physiographic characteristics of the Rift Valley.
• Explain the impacts of relief on biophysical and socioeconomic conditions

Instructor: Geda H.
 General Characteristics of the
Ethiopian Physiography

• The Ethiopia’s topography is characterized by great diversity

• flat-topped plateaus, high and rugged mountains, deep river gorges
and vast plains
• Altitude ranges from 125 meters below sea level (Kobar Sink) to
4620m amsl (Ras-Dashen).
• Ethiopia has the largest proportion of elevated landmass in the
African continent.
• More than 50% of the Ethiopian landmass is above 1,000 meters of
elevation; and above 1,500 meters makes 44% of the country.
• Because of this, Ethiopia is said to be the “roof of eastern Africa.”
 General Characteristics of the
Ethiopian Physiography

• Most of the Ethiopian

Highlands
• are part of central and northern
Ethiopia, and its northernmost
portion extends into Eritrea.
• Dissected by rivers and deep
gorges
• As a result, Ethiopian plateau
is called “the water tower of
north east Africa.”
 General Characteristics of the
Ethiopian Physiography
• The diversity in topography is accompanied by
differences in natural features as well as socio-
cultural and economic phenomena.
• 1000m is considered as a demarcation between
highlands and lowlands
• Highlands have a significant impacts in Ethiopia
• make up nearly 56% of the area of the Ethiopia anf
further subdivided into:
• lower highland (1,000 - 2,000 m.a.s.l), which make up
34% and
• higher highland (>2,000 m.a.s.l) constituting nearly
22%.
 Characteristics of Highlands vs Lowlands
highlands
• Moderate and high
amount of rainfall (>600
mm per year).
• Lower mean annual
temperature (<200C).
• The climate is favorable for
biotic life.
• Rain-fed agriculture is
possible.
• Free from tropical diseases.
• Attractive for human
habitation and densely
settled.
lowlands
• Fewer amounts of rainfall and
higher temperature.
• High prevalence of tropical
diseases.
• Lower population densities.
• Nomadic and semi-nomadic
economic life.
• Vast plain lands favorable for
irrigation agriculture along
the lower river basins.
 The Physiographic
Divisions of Ethiopia

• What are the major physiographic divisions of Ethiopia?

• Can you explain the formation of Ethiopian rift valley?
• What biophysical characteristics can you mention about areas under rift in
Ethiopia?
 Physiographic…
• Formed by the geologic
processes of the Cenozoic
Era,
• There are three major
physiographic units can be
identified
• The Western highlands and
lowlands
• The South-eastern (Eastern)
highlands and lowlands
• The Rift Valley
Physiographic …
 Tigrean plateau

North Central
Massifs

Hararghean
Shewan Plateau Plateau

SW highlands
Arsi Bale
Sidama
Highlands
 The Western Highlands and
Lowlands
• includes all the area west of the
Rift Valley.
• It extends from north to south
makes up about 44% of the area of
the country.
• In the east the western escarpment
of the Rift Valley until Sudan and
South Sudan border.
• further subdivided into four groups
of highlands (76.3%) and four
groups of lowlands (23.7%).
 Western highlands

Western
highlands

The Shewa
North central Southwestern
Tigray plateau Plateau/central
Massifs highlands
highlands
 A. Tigray plateau
• extends from the Tekeze gorge in the south to central
Eritrean highlands.
• separated from the Eritrean plateau by the Mereb
River
• constitutes about 13% of the area of the region.
• elongated highland with most of the land being in
between 1,000 and 2,000 meters above sea level.
• The right bank tributaries of Tekeze drain this plateau.
• Long period of denudation has created residual
features of granite hills, rugged topography, and
Ambas.
 Continued

• There are high mountains in

this plateau with elevations
of over 3000 meters, namely
• Mount Tsibet (3988 m.a.s.l)
• Mount Ambalage (3291
m.a.s.l), and
• Mount Assimba (3248 m.a.s.l).
• famous monastery at Debre-
Damo, a tableland that can Mt Ambalage

only be climbed by a rope

pulley is located in this
region
 B. North Central massifs
• the largest in the western highlands.
• Much of its northern and southern limit follows the Abay and
Tekeze gorges.
• The Abay, Tekeze and their tributaries have cut into this region a
maze of gorges, steep sided river valleys, dividing the land into many
isolated plateau blocks, precipitous tablelands and other rugged
surface forms.
•
• But much of these plateau and tablelands are still capped by the
Trappean lava.
• In its central part, the physiographic unit also accommodates
the Lake Tana basin surrounded by plains of Fogera and
Dembia in the north and an upland plain in its south.
 North… continued
• Fifty-eight percent of the region is at an altitude of more than 2,000
meters, making it, next to the Shewan Plateau, the second highest
physiographic division.
• The region consists of the Gonder, Wello and Gojjam Massifs.
• Out of the 26 mountain peaks with altitude of more than 4,000m.a.s.l
in Ethiopia, 19 mountain peaks are found in this physiographic
region.
• Among these, the most popular ones include
• Mount Ras Dashen (4,620 m.a.s.l),
• Mount Weynobar/Ancua (4462 m.a.s.l),
• Mount KidisYared (4453 m.a.s.l), and
• Mount Bwahit (4437 m.a.s.l) in the Simen Mountain System.
• Mount Guna (4,231m.a.s.l) in the Debre Tabour Mountain System,
• Abune Yoseph (4,260 m.a.s.l) in the Lasta highlands of Wello and
• Mount Birhan (4,154 m.a.s.l) in the Choke Mountain System
 North… Continued
• The Mountain systems in Gonder and Gojjam are
separated from the eastern group of mountains in
Wello by impenetrable and deep gorges.
• At one point though, they are connected by Yeju-Wadla
Delanta land bridge (ridge).
• This land bridge has been significant in history.
• served as a route of penetration by the Turks,
Portuguese, and Italians etc.
• The Woreta-Debre Tabor-Woldya road constructed to link
the northwestern region with Asseb through Woldya and
Dessie took advantage of this land bridge.
 C. The Shewa Plateau/central
highlands
• bounded by the Rift Valley in the east and southeast,
by the Abay gorge in its northern and western limit,
and the Omo gorge in the south and west.
• occupies a central geographical position in Ethiopia.
• With only 11% of the area of the whole physiographic
region, the Shewa Plateau is the smallest of the
Western highlands.
• Nearly three fourth of its area is at an altitude of
more than 2,000 meters above sea level.
• It has, therefore, the largest proportion of elevated ground.
 C. Shewan…. continued
• Drained by the tributaries of Abbay, Omo and
Awash
• The tributaries of
• Abay Guder, Muger, Jema etc. have cut deep gorges and
steep sided river valleys.
• Omo and Awash have dissected the other sides of
the plateau.
• The highest mountain in the Shewan plateau is
• Mount Abuye-Meda (4,000 m.a.s.l) in Northern Shewa,
• Mount Guraghe in the south is 3,721 meters high.
 D. The Southwestern Highlands

• consists of the highlands of Wellega, Illuababora,

Jimma, Kaffa, Gamo and Gofa.
• separated from the adjacent highlands by the Abay
and Omo river valleys.
• extends from the Abay gorge in the north to the
Kenya border and Chew Bahir in the south.
• accounts for 22.7% of the area of the region.
• is the second largest in the Western highlands.
• About 70% of its area is lies within 1,000-2,000 meters
altitude.
 D. South… continued
• The southwestern plateau is the wettest in Ethiopia.

• It is drained by
• Dabus, Deddessa (tributaries of Abay),
• Baro, Akobo and the Ghibe/Omo rivers.
• The numerous streams have cut these highlands to
produce the most dissected and rugged terrain that
accommodates the most numerous and diverse ethnic
linguistic groups in Ethiopia.
• With a height of 4,200 meters above sea level, Guge
Mountain is the highest peak in this physiographic
subdivision.
 The Western Lowlands
• western foothills and border plains that extend from
Western Tigray in the north to southern Gamo-Gofa in the
South.
• In certain places, ridges or part of the highlands protrude
into the lowlands, interrupting their continuity.
• They make 11% of the area of the physiographic region.
• The general elevation ranges between 500 and 1000 meters
above sea level.
 Continued
• It can be subdivided into four categories

Western
lowlands

Tekezze Abay-Dinder Baro-Akobo Ghibe

lowlands lowlands lowlands lowlands
 Continued
• With the exception of the Baro lowland, the region
is generally characterized by arid or semi-arid
conditions.
• Pastoral or semi-pastoral economic activities dominate the
area.
• As one moves northwards, the degree of aridity
increases, making rain-fed agriculture more difficult.
• Since one or two rivers cross all of these lowlands,
irrigation agriculture is highly feasible.
• For example, the Baro lowland has an extensive flat area
suitable for mechanized agriculture.
• The Ghibe/Omo lowland, which includes the lower
Ghibe/Omo Valley and the northern section of the Turkana
basin, is classified in the Western lowlands from its
geographical location.
• But structurally it also belongs to the Rift Valley.
• It is an area, which is both faulted and tectonically depressed.
• In the Western lowlands, there are small but important
towns.
• Their importance could be related to agriculture, history, or are
simply border towns and frontier ports.
• These are Humera, Metema, Omedla, Kurmuk, Gambella etc.
The Southeastern Highlands and
Lowlands

• South east highlands

• Arsi- Bale-Sidama
• Hararghe Plateau

• South eastern Lowlands

• Ogaden
• Elkerie
• Borena
 SE Highlands and lowlands
• the second largest in terms of area.
• accounts for 37% of the area of Ethiopia.
• The highlands make up 46% of the physiographic division while the rest is
lowland.
• In the west and north, the eastern escarpment of the Rift Valley
makes the western and northern limit.

• land raises so abruptly that from the edge of the plateau one literally
looks down the Rift Valley.

• the land gradually descends southeastward

• further subdivided into
• two units of highlands and
• two units of extensive lowlands.
 A. Arsi-Bale-Sidama
Highlands
• are found to the east of the Lakes Region.

• They are located in the south western section of the physiographic

region.

• make up 28.5% of the area of the region and 62% of the south - Eastern
Highlands.
• The Arsi Highlands are made up of flat rolling uplands and dissected
mountains.

• The well-known mountains in this area are

• Mount Kaka (4,180 m.a.s.l),
• Mount Bada (4,139 m.a.s.l) and
• Mount Chilalo (4,036 m.a.s.l).
 Continued…
• The Bale highlands are separated from the Arsi highlands by
the head and main stream of Wabishebelle.

• They consist of a platform looking basaltic plateau in the north-

central part and high mountain massif to the south.

• The Afro-Alpine summit of Senetti plateau is found on the

latter group.

• The highest mountain peaks in this region are Tulu-Dimtu (4,377

m.a.s.l) and Mount Batu (4,307 m.a.s.l).
 Continued…
• Erosion features belonging to Pleistocene glaciation but
later modified by fluvial processes

• The Arsi-Bale Highlands are important grains producing

areas with still high potential.

• The Sidama Highlands are separated from the Bale

Highlands by the Ghenale river valley.

• occupy the southwestern corner of this region.

• The prominent feature here is the Jemjem plateau, an important
coffee growing area.
• Rivers Wabishebelle and Ghenale along with their
tributaries have dissected this physiographic region.

• Specially, Weyb River, tributary of Ghenale, has cut an

underground passage (Sof Omar cave) through the
Mesozoic Limestone rocks.

• The cave is found near Bale Mountains.

• It is one of the World's most spectacular and extensive
underground caverns creating a magnificent view accessible only
by an underground stream.
 The Hararghe Plateau
• is a north-easterly extension of the south-eastern highlands.
•
• It extends from the Chercher highlands in the south-west to Jigjiga
in the east.

• It makes up 38% of the South Eastern highlands and 17.4% of the

whole physiographic region.

• It has the smallest proportion of upper highland (>2,000 meters).

• It is a low lying and elongated region.
 Hararghean plateau
• Rising sharply from the Rift Valley
floor, it immediately but gently
descends east and southeastward.

• The left-bank tributaries of

Wabishebelle drain it.

• Much of the Trappean lava is

removed and the Mesozoic rocks
are extensively exposed.

• The highest mountain here is

Mount Gara-Muleta (3,381 m.a.s.l).
 The Southeastern Lowlands
• located in the southeastern part of the country and they are the most
extensive lowlands in Ethiopia.

• make up 54% of the area of the physiographic region and around

one-fifth of the country.

• divided into Wabishebelle plain (60%) and the Ghenale Plain (40%).
• include the plains of Ogaden, Elkere, and Borena. Southeastward sloping plains
characterize these lowlands.

• These extensive plains are interrupted here and there, by low hills,
low ridges, inselbergs and by shallow and broad river valleys and
depressions.
• Because of the harsh climatic conditions, these lowlands
are little used and support very small population.

• They are sparsely inhabited by pastoral and semi-pastoral

communities.

• The economic potential for this region includes animal

husbandry, irrigation, agriculture and perhaps exploitation
of petroleum and natural gas.
The Rift Valley
• The Rift Valley is a tectonically formed structural
depression.
•
• It is bounded by two major and more or less parallel escarpments.
•
• The formation of the Rift Valley has separated the Ethiopian
Highlands and Lowlands in to two.

• It extends from the Afar triangle in the north to Chew Bahir for
about 1,700 km.
• It covers 18% of the area of Ethiopia.
• It is elongated and funnel shaped, with a NE-SW orientation.
• It is widest at Afar depression and narrows down to the south.
• The floor of the Rift Valley is made up of
• interconnected troughs, grabens and depressions.
• Volcanic rocks, fluvial and lacustrine deposits cover the floor.
• In many places, numerous volcanic domes, hills and cinder cones rise from the
floor.
• Altitude ranges from 125 m bmsl at Dallol Depression, to as
high as 2,000 meters above sea level in the Lakes region.
• The bounding escarpments are also of varying heights.
• From the floor to the edge of the escarpment, the heights vary from 200 to 1500
meters.
• Because of its altitudinal variation and positional differences, the climate
also varies from warm, hot and dry to cool and moderately moist
conditions.
• Similarly, the social and economic life reflects this
pattern.
• desolate and sparsely inhabited by pastoralists
• people practice some rain-fed agriculture.

• The Rift Valley is further subdivided into three

physiographic sub-regions.
• the Afar Triangle,
• the Main Ethiopian Rift, and
• the Chew Bahir Rift
Rift Valley

Afar Triangle

Rift
in
Ma
ba
ift
Chew
hir R
 Afar Triangle
• largest and widest part of the Rift Valley.
• It makes up 54% of the Rift Valley area.

• It is bounded by the high western and eastern escarpments in the

west and east respectively, and by the Afar and Aisha Horst in the
northeast.

• The area is generally of low altitude (300-700 meters).

• triangular-shape lowland

• Elevation ranges from 125m bmls to 1000m amsl represent the

lowest subaerial point of the African continent.
• hosts one of the most hostile environments on Earth
(maximum temperatures can exceed 50°C during the
summer wet season; Dallol, at the northern tip of Afar.

• It is characterized by
• faulted depressions (grabens), volcanic hills, active volcanoes,
volcanic ridges, lava fields and low lava platforms
• Lakes (Abe, Asale, and Afrera)
• Denakil Depression (Kobar Sink).
• Salt plain
• Hot and dry climate
• The economic importance of this region includes salt extraction,
irrigation along the Awash River and electric potential from
geothermal energy.
 The Main Ethiopian Rift/Central
Rift
• it refers to the narrow belt of the Rift Valley that
extends from Awash River in the north to Lake
Chamo in the south.
• It is bounded by the western and eastern
escarpments.
• With the exception of the Arba-minch area, the
bounding escarpments are generally low.
• This part of the Rift Valley is the narrowest and the
highest.
• It has an average width of 50-80 kilometers and
general elevation of 1,000-2,000 meters above sea
level.
• The floor in many places is dotted by cinder cones and
volcanic mountains.
• The big ones include Mount Fentale, Boseti-guda (near Adama),
Aletu (north of Lake Ziway) and Chebi (north of Lake Hawasa).
• The northern section has more of these cinder cones and lava fields.

• The prominent features, however, are the numerous lakes

formed on tectonic sags and fault depressions.

• It is mild and wet, people practices rain-fed agriculture,

recreational value of the lakes, the agricultural importance
of some streams and lakes, and the geothermal energy
potential.
 The Chew Bahir Rift
• This is the smallest and the southern-most part of the Rift Valley.

• Gneissic highlands of Konso and the surrounding highlands separate

it from the Main Ethiopian Rift to the north.

• The characteristic feature of this region is the broad and shallow

depression, which is a marshy area covered by tall grass, into which
the Segen and Woito streams empty.
 The Impacts of Relief on
Biophysical and
Socioeconomic Conditions
 Activity

•Discuss the impacts of

relief/elevation on
•Agriculture
•Settlement
•Climate
•Vegetation
•Transport
 Continued
• Agricultural practices
• Choice of farming techniques and farm implements
are highly influenced by relief
• crop production
• as some corps are well adapted to higher altitudes
(barley, wheat) and others to low altitude (sorghum,
maize).
• The practice of animal husbandry
• most equines and sheep are reared in the higher
altitudes and camels and goat are well adapted to lower
altitudes
 Continued
• Settlement pattern
• Highlands of Ethiopia that experience a temperate type
of climatic condition that are mainly free from most of
the tropical diseases are densely settled.

• Rugged and difficult terrain hinders the development of

settlement and its expansion.

• The highlands of Ethiopia are characterized by sedentary

life and permanent settlements while lowlands that are
inhabited by pastoralists have temporary settlements.
 Continued
• Transportation and communication
• The highly dissected nature of the landscape is a barrier to
the development of internal surface transportation that
resulted in the long-term isolation of many communities

• The difficult terrain makes infrastructure development and

maintenance costly.

• TV and radio communications are also highly influenced by

relief.

• The rugged topography rendered rivers less navigable due to

the waterfalls, deep gorges and steep cliffs.
 Continued
• Hydroelectric power potential
• The great difference in altitude coupled with high rainfall
created suitable conditions for a very high potential for the
production of hydroelectric power in Ethiopia.

• Socio-cultural feeling
• The rugged terrain as a result of excessive surface
dissection resulted in the long-term isolation of
communities that led to the occurrence of cultural
diversity.
• People who live in the highlands have been identifying
themselves as degegnas (mountaineers) and those who
live in the lowlands as kollegnas (lowlanders).
 Continued
• Impacts on climate
• The climate of Ethiopia is a result of the tropical position of the
country and the great altitudinal variation of the general
topography.
• Highlands with higher amount of rainfall and lower rate of evapo-
transpiration tend to be moisture surplus compared to the
moisture deficit lowlands.
• Impacts on soil
• Steep mountain slopes provide low angle of rest, unstable surface
materials and subject to degradation processes and relatively
form shallow and little developed soils.
• Impacts on natural vegetation
• Relief through its effect on climate and hydrology affect the type of
natural vegetation grown in an area
 Summary
Ethiopian
topography

Western South eastern Rift valley

Highlands Lowlands Highlands Lowlands Afar triangles

Tekezze Arsi-Bale- Wabe-shebelle Main Ethiopian

Tigrean plateau
Anghereb Sidama plains rift

North central
Abay Dinder Hararghean Genalle plains Chew bahir rift
massifs

Shewan
Baro Akobo
plateau

SW highlands Omo Ghibe

 End
of
Chapter 3

Chapter 4